Aug 16, 2026 · 46 min · 9 segments
Pastor Cam Stephens examines 2 Peter 2:17–22, where Peter warns about false teaching and living contrary to faith. He urges followers to pursue sanctification, faithfulness, and genuine…
Cam StephensHost
So for those who have been following over the past number of weeks, our text today is a continuation of this warning that Peter provides to the church about the presence of false teachers among them, who stand against the Orthodox teaching, Orthodox Christian teaching of the apostles, and instead twist the scriptures for their own gain, for their own benefit.
And over the past three weeks, we have unpacked the character of these false teachers.
We've unpacked the content of their message, as well as the consequences that await them for leading others astray.
And today's passage, while reiterating all of those things along the way, changes its angle slightly as Peter focuses on those who may be tempted to follow these false teachers.
Here, Peter pleads with any who may hear his words, trying to keep them from taking the bait, because the reality, as we read in verse 2 a few weeks ago, is that unfortunately, many will follow them.
And so Peter presents the results of following these false teachers, saying that those who choose to follow the false teachers over the true gospel of Jesus Christ will ultimately find themselves dissatisfied, enslaved, and condemned.
Starting in verse 17, Peter says that following false teachers will leave one dissatisfied.
He says in verse 17, Peter comes right out and says that the teachings of these religious deceivers are hollow.
Verse 18 says that they make loud boasts, promising all sorts of things like salvation, freedom, knowledge, happiness, purpose, refreshment, autonomy.
But just like they proved to be in Genesis, the boasts of these false teachers will prove to be hollow, like springs in the wilderness that promise refreshment but have no water, or a mist that never actually lands on the dry, cracked, needy ground.
Just this past winter, our ministry staff went on a day-long planning retreat at a camp just outside the city.
Now, not knowing how long I'd be gone, I didn't quite prepare, and within 30 minutes or so, I really had to go to the bathroom.
Now, after walking from the lodge for 30 minutes, there were no bathrooms in sight, and I wandered for what seems like forever, a little edgy and uncertain of how this story was going to end.
And so thrilled with what I saw ahead of me, I reset my course through the woods towards the destination, that little plastic shelter that promised the relief that I needed.
Well, when I finally came upon the place in which I had placed my hopes, ready to swing the door open, it became apparent that the whole thing was chained and locked shut for the season.
But now I found myself even further from where I needed to be, even worse off than when I had started.
Now, why did I tell you this? Why did I flirt with the line of going too far in an illustration? Yeah, I'm aware.
So for those who have been following over the past number of weeks, our text today is a continuation of this warning that Peter provides to the church about the presence of false teachers among them, who stand against the Orthodox teaching, Orthodox Christian teaching of the apostles, and instead twist the scriptures for their own gain, for their own benefit.
And over the past three weeks, we have unpacked the character of these false teachers.
We've unpacked the content of their message, as well as the consequences that await them for leading others astray.
And today's passage, while reiterating all of those things along the way, changes its angle slightly as Peter focuses on those who may be tempted to follow these false teachers.
Here, Peter pleads with any who may hear his words, trying to keep them from taking the bait, because the reality, as we read in verse 2 a few weeks ago, is that unfortunately, many will follow them.
And so Peter presents the results of following these false teachers, saying that those who choose to follow the false teachers over the true gospel of Jesus Christ will ultimately find themselves dissatisfied, enslaved, and condemned.
Starting in verse 17, Peter says that following false teachers will leave one dissatisfied.
He says in verse 17, Peter comes right out and says that the teachings of these religious deceivers are hollow.
Verse 18 says that they make loud boasts, promising all sorts of things like salvation, freedom, knowledge, happiness, purpose, refreshment, autonomy.
But just like they proved to be in Genesis, the boasts of these false teachers will prove to be hollow, like springs in the wilderness that promise refreshment but have no water, or a mist that never actually lands on the dry, cracked, needy ground.
Just this past winter, our ministry staff went on a day-long planning retreat at a camp just outside the city.
Now, not knowing how long I'd be gone, I didn't quite prepare, and within 30 minutes or so, I really had to go to the bathroom.
Now, after walking from the lodge for 30 minutes, there were no bathrooms in sight, and I wandered for what seems like forever, a little edgy and uncertain of how this story was going to end.
And so thrilled with what I saw ahead of me, I reset my course through the woods towards the destination, that little plastic shelter that promised the relief that I needed.
Well, when I finally came upon the place in which I had placed my hopes, ready to swing the door open, it became apparent that the whole thing was chained and locked shut for the season.
But now I found myself even further from where I needed to be, even worse off than when I had started.
Now, why did I tell you this? Why did I flirt with the line of going too far in an illustration? Yeah, I'm aware.
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